University of Port Harcourt

The MSc in One Health and Disease Modelling is a postgraduate programme offered through the Africa Centre of Excellence in Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR) at the University of Port Harcourt. Designed to equip an interdisciplinary team of health professionals with the knowledge and tools to address complex emerging disease challenges, the programme emphasises the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health through a trans-disciplinary One Health approach. The programme is administered in partnership with Corona Management Systems (CMS), and is aligned with a 10-month funded Fellowship in disease modelling supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Participants on the joint Fellowship/MSc route receive both the CMS Fellowship in Malaria Modelling and the University of Port Harcourt master's degree. The rationale for the programme is grounded in five strategic priorities: 1. Interdisciplinary response — integrating human, animal, and environmental health to address zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental health challenges. 2. Building local capacity in disease surveillance, modelling, and prevention to reduce dependency on external expertise. 3. Strengthening health security through predictive modelling and improved outbreak preparedness. 4. Supporting sustainable development by linking health to environmental and agricultural policies. 5. Enhancing global health research and positioning Nigeria as a regional leader in integrated health solutions.

The MSc in Healthcare Quality, Leadership and Innovation is offered through the Africa Centre of Excellence in Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR) at the University of Port Harcourt. The programme is designed to build the skills and capacity for driving excellence in leadership, team management, continuous quality improvement, and patient safety among health professionals and institutions in Nigeria. The programme addresses five key gaps in the Nigerian healthcare system: 1. Improving Healthcare Quality — trains professionals to enhance patient care, reduce medical errors, strengthen clinical governance, and implement evidence-based practices. 2. Leadership Development — equips healthcare workers with management and leadership skills to drive systemic improvements in resource-constrained environments. 3. Fostering Innovation — encourages creative problem-solving and adoption of new technologies to tackle local healthcare challenges. 4. Capacity Building — strengthens the workforce to meet growing demand for skilled healthcare leaders and improve health system resilience. 5. Global Competitiveness — aligns local healthcare systems with global standards, attracting investment and collaboration. The programme targets health practitioners — doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, administrators, and allied health professionals — and focuses on the principles and practice of healthcare quality improvement, patient safety, leadership development, translational science, and innovation.

The MSc in Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Port Harcourt equips students with advanced theoretical, conceptual, and technical knowledge in pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry. The programme aims to: i. Equip students with the knowledge base in pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry. ii. Develop skills and competencies applicable to the field. iii. Produce high-calibre professionals who will play leading roles in pharmaceutical and allied industries — particularly in drug discovery and development (DDD), drug quality control and assurance (DQCA), and drug efficacy and action. iv. Provide advanced knowledge and skills to meet national and international manpower needs in pharmaceutical education and research. In the first year, students cover advanced organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, chemistry of natural products, modern analytical techniques, advanced pharmacokinetics and metabolic chemistry, pharmaceutical analysis and quality evaluation, and drug design and synthesis. Special emphasis is placed on drug discovery from medicinal plants targeting global diseases such as malaria, hypertension, diabetes, and microbacterial and inflammatory diseases. ICT, biostatistics, entrepreneurship, and research methods are also integrated. Teaching is delivered through problem-based learning, interactive lectures, laboratory practicals, self-directed learning, and seminar presentations. In the second year, students conduct supervised research on approved topics in pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry, culminating in a thesis examined internally, externally, and through an oral examination.